Seven of the country's most famous chefs add their own special flavors to these basic ingredients. So what are you waiting for? Soup's on — pounds off.

Back by popular demand: GH's amazing diet that lets you eat all you want and still lose weight. This year, we asked some of the country's most famous chefs to jazz up our versatile Basic Soup recipe with their own variations. On the following pages are their five-star creations, which add up to about 400 calories per dinner. (Note: If you eat 300 calories for breakfast and 400 calories for lunch, you could lose as many as five pounds the first seven days; within a month, you could be 10 pounds lighter!)

Emeril LagasseLocation: New OrleansWhy he's famous: Owner of three New Orleans restaurants and Emeril's New Orleans Fish House in Las Vegas; host of the Food Network cooking show Emeril LiveSoup secret: Low-fat sausages deliver flavor and texture similar to the real Creole deal while cutting the calories in half.

Michael ChiarelloLocation: Napa Valley, CaliforniaWhy he's famous: Host of the public television cooking show Michael Chiarello's Napa; author of Flavored Oils: 50 Recipes for Cooking with Infused OilsSoup secret: A little fat goes a long way: The sprinkle of Parmesan and drizzle of olive oil add a richness that turns this into a satisfying meal.

Lidia BastianichLocation: New York CityWhy she's famous: Owner and founder of the restaurant Felidia (also, Lidia's Pittsburgh and Lidia's Kansas City); host of Lidia's Italian-American Kitchen, on PBSSoup secret: Saffron for flavor and mussels for protein make this low-calorie soup tasty and healthy.

Ming TsaiLocation: Wellesley, MassachusettsWhy he's famous: Host of the Food Network show East Meets West with Ming Tsai; author of Blue GingerSoup secret: Traditional Asian seasonings such as rice vinegar and ginger boost the flavor without hiking the calories.

Why he's famous: Executive chef of The Mansion on Turtle Creek; host of the Food Network's Entertaining at Home with Dean FearingSoup secret: A few slices of avocado give this soup a creamy finish without adding a ton of extra calories.

Madhur JaffreyLocation: New York CityWhy she's famous: Author of Step-by-Step Cooking; consultant for the restaurant DawatSoup secret: The spices of Eastern cuisine force you to slow down and savor the food — and to drink lots of water! Together, that means feeling full on fewer calories.

Don PintabonaLocation: New York CityWhy he's famous: Executive chef of the New York City restaurant Tribeca GrillSoup secret: True to their name, butter beans impart a rich, creamy flavor, even though they are low in fat (and high in fiber!).

Q: If I don't like some of the breakfast or lunch foods, can I substitute something else?

A: Yes, as long as what you choose has about the same number of calories. To keep the diet nutritious, try to substitute similar foods — one vegetable for another vegetable, or one type of bread for another. Also, check labels to be sure your swaps don't leave you short on calcium, and definitely take a 500-mg calcium supplement daily while you are on this diet.

Q: Do I have to eat all the different breakfasts, lunches, and dinners that are on the seven-day plan, or can I just repeat a few favorite meals over and over?

A: Eating only a few of the meals won't stall your weight loss, but varying your food choices is important because it guarantees that you'll get the wide spectrum of vitamins and minerals that your body needs. To make sure you're not missing out on any nutrients, take a multivitamin every day.

Q: This diet really works! But is it safe to stay on it for more than one week?

A: Yes, you can repeat the seven-day meal plan for several weeks, but you don't have to. We've kept calorie counts steady (breakfast meals are about 300; lunch and dinner meals are about 400 each), so you can mix and match to your stomach's content while still peeling off pounds.

Q: My husband wants to try the Soup Diet. Any guidelines for adapting the diet to a male metabolism?

A: The only difference between your husband's version of the diet and yours is that he needs about 300 extra calories per day. He can add three of these 100-calorie snacks to make up for his daily deficit: 1 medium banana, 20 peanuts, 3 ounces deli turkey breast, 6 reduced-fat Triscuits, 4 sesame breadsticks, or 30 grapes.